BBL: Raiders tame Lions

Trailing 81-87 heading into the second leg, Plymouth wiped out the deficit with a 107-99 win on Sunday night after overtime.

Raiders quickly found themselves down by double figures in the tie when Demarius Bolds helped the visitors into an 8-3 lead during the opening stages and it was still an 11-point margin by the end of the first quarter with the Lions 23-18 ahead.

But, it wasn't long before the home team rallied and the spark was provided by Michael Ojo. The shooter drained one from distance and it was a three-pointer which put Raiders 26-25 ahead after an 8-2 start to the second period.

Things got even better for the 'Green Army' when minutes later, the same player scored another basket and Raiders went five points in front and just one point behind in the tie.

However if Raiders fans though their team would simply step on the pedal and pull clear, they were to be mistaken as Lions finished the half strongly with an 11-4 run to head into the locker rooms 43-41 to the good.

When Howard Crawford scored for Lions early in the third quarter, it began looking ominous for the home team and even more so when he made a free-throw to take the visitors 60-54 in front and 10 points ahead in the tie.

Heroics

But, Raiders came storming back and heading into the last period, regained the lead on the night at 64-62. With five minutes remaining of a real roller-coaster game, the pendulum swing back to Lions after a triple by Nuno Pedroso put them 79-75 ahead.

Raiders needed inspiration when with less than a minute to play the game was tied 49-49 and they looked to be crashing out.

Jeremy Bell was the man who provided it as he firstly made the most of being fouled on a three-point attempt as he punished Lions by making all three free-throws and then, bringing Raiders level in the tie with a deep three-pointer.

It still gave Lions a chance but Pedroso couldn't make a three-point shot on the last possession although two missed free-throws by Crawford moments earlier in between the heroics of Bell was probably the moment Lions truly blew their opportunity.

As the game went into overtime by virtue of the tie with Raiders 95-89 in front, they never looked back as they stepped up their defence and navigated an edgy last 60 seconds to book their place.

Elsewhere on Sunday, Glasgow Rocks bounced back from their previous defeat to Mersey Tigers with an 86-75 triumph over Guildford Heat.

Mychal Green top scored for Rocks while Gareth Murray converted each one of his three attempts from long distance and that was essential in a game when neither team were in good form from outside.

Drew Lasker was the pick of the visitors with 14 points, nine rebounds and four assists.